Louise Turpin, left, and husband David Turpin are due in Superior Court in Riverside County on June 20 for a preliminary hearing in which a judge will determine whether the Perris couple will be held for trial on charges that include torture and child abuse. They are accused of mistreating 12 of their 13 children. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) ORG XMIT: RIV2018061916071516

Perris torture defendants David and Louise Turpin might have difficulty winning a plea bargain from prosecutors unless they are willing to spend decades in prison, two attorneys unconnected to the case say.

The Turpins could learn Wednesday, June 20, whether they will stand trial in a case in which they are accused of shackling, starving and neglecting 12 of their 13 children. Collectively, they face 92 felony counts, including torture, false imprisonment and child abuse.

The preliminary hearing in Superior Court in Riverside will determine whether there is enough evidence to hold the couple for trial in a case that has received worldwide attention. In a preliminary hearing, unlike a trial in which prosecutors must prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, prosecutors must show only enough evidence for a judge to believe a crime occurred and that the defendant might have committed it.

The hearing is expected to last one day, possibly a little longer. Riverside County sheriff’s detectives who investigated the torture claims of a 17-year-old girl who escaped from the Muir Woods Road home — and who appeared to them to be only 10 — are expected to testify.

“It will be difficult for the defense to get any type of plea deal that will allow their clients to see the light of day,” said Laurie L. Levenson, a former federal prosecutor who is now a professor of law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. “The prosecution can stack up the charges. This is a very egregious case, and given the age of the parents, even if they get a 20- 30-year sentence (if convicted), they’re not going to get out of prison.”

The defense attorneys’ best strategy to force a plea deal might be to find a way to reduce the number of charges against them “and poke holes in the DA’s defense at trial,” said Robert A. Trujillo, a criminal defense and civil attorney with Trujillo & Trujillo in Temecula.

“The DA has most of the cards in this case,” Trujillo said. “Consequently, the DA can play hardball when it comes to plea negotiations. Other than the potential emotional distress the children might suffer from testifying, there is no reason for the DA not to take this case to trial.”

Levenson, in discussing defenses, said religion and bad parenting would be non-starters.

“You’re not allowed to hurt your kids,” she said. “There’s no First Amendment right to do this.”

Levenson said the Turpins’ attorneys are likely contemplating psychological evaluations to determine whether there is a mental impairment defense.

Brian Rokos writes about public safety issues such as policing, criminal justice, scams, how law affects public safety, firefighting tactics and wildland fire danger. He has also covered the cities of San Bernardino, Corona, Norco, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Canyon Lake and Hemet. Before that he supervised reporters and worked as a copy editor. For some reason, he enjoys movies where the Earth is threatened with extinction.